The Beatles concert poster – Operation Big Beat – 1961

The Beatles concert poster – Operation Big Beat – 1961

A fabulous reproduction of a Beatles concert poster held at the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton on Friday 10th November 1961. Around this time the Beatles were still playing relatively local gigs. The Tower Ballroom was a venue in the seaside resort of New Brighton, near Wallasey in Merseyside. The show was the Beatle’s first-ever show at the Tower Ballroom. It was also the first ‘Operation Big Beat’ event put on by promoter Sam Leach. Leach intended to put on shows featuring the top beat groups of the time. This first concert set out in style. The show not only featured The Beatles performing two sets, but also, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Remo Four, and Kingsize Taylor and the Dominoes.

According to the Beatles Bible website; Tickets cost five shillings, and the event lasted from 7.30pm to 1am. The Beatles’ first set was at 8pm, after which they quickly drove to Knotty Ash Village Hall for the second show of the night. They then hurried back to the Tower Ballroom for a final appearance at 11.30pm. At the end of the night, The Beatles and The Hurricanes had a car chase, through the Mersey Tunnel, back to Liverpool city centre. The Beatles went on to play at the Tower Ballroom on a further 26 occasions between 961 and 1963.

Our posters are carefully and professionally created from vintage originals. Whilst great care is taken in the production of these posters, we also try to maintain a vintage feel, so there may be small imperfections, fold marks, scuffs, tears, or marks that were part of the original poster master. If these do appear they should be visible on the larger views of the item on this listing. The originals of many of the posters we offer can cost many thousands of pounds, so whilst these posters look great, especially framed and mounted on a wall, they are intended as fun, affordable reproductions and not intended fine art prints.

The 50x70cm version has been specially produced to be used in conjunction with Ikea’s 50x70cm Ribba picture frame which currently retails for around £12. So you can bag a bargain of print and frame for a great price.